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More ESPN3, no CST, in Sun Belt telecasts

A recently announced expanded agreement with ESPN will result in every home football game for all Sun Belt Conference members this season being carried on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS or ESPN3, SBC commissioner Karl Benson said during Sun Belt Media here Tuesday.

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More ESPN3, no CST, in Sun Belt telecasts

Tim Buckley, Louisiana
10:26 p.m. CDT July 22, 2014

Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson detailed Tuesday that fans will no longer be able to see games on the Sun Belt Network, Cox Sports locally, but there will be more games on ESPN3.
(Photo:
Associated Press
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NEW ORLEANS – A recently announced expanded agreement with ESPN will result in every home football game for all Sun Belt Conference members this season being carried on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS or ESPN3, SBC commissioner Karl Benson said during Sun Belt Media here Tuesday.

Additional Sun Belt-related content will be picked up by one of the ESPN networks as well, including every men’s and women’s game from the conference’s 2015 basketball tournaments in New Orleans.

“This new agreement gives the Sun Belt a tremendous boost on our television coverage,” Benson said, “especially on the digital side with ESPN3 that becomes the wave of the future on how fans will watch college sports.”

But the new venture, Benson added, “didn’t come without some pain and angst.”

The reason for that, according to the commissioner: It marks the end of the partnership between the Sun Belt and two regional sports networks, CST and recently shuttered CSS, that for the past five years has distributed games via the Sun Belt Network.

The Sun Belt Network, in other words, has ceased operations.

“It’s now time to move forward and move on with this new and very exciting opportunity with ESPN,” Benson said.

CENTER DECISION

Coach Mark Hudspeth said Tuesday that the battle between redshirt freshman Grant Horst and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College transfer Eddie Gordon to claim UL’s starting center position is “wide open going into camp.”

But Hudspeth said he hopes to identify a winner early, ideally immediately after the Ragin’ Cajuns’ first scrimmage in early August.

MOORE INJURED, OUT

True freshman center Drew Moore “will have to redshirt this year” and will not practice in the fall, Hudspeth said Tuesday.

The University Lab product from Baton Rouge sustained a thigh injury during a summer workout, but remains with the team and on scholarship.

BARKSDALE DONE

Hudspeth said Tuesday that he has “released” senior linebacker Tig Barksdale from scholarship and he “will no longer be a part of the team.”

Barksdale did not part in spring practice earlier this year.

Hudspeth said the former Ole Miss signee would have been eligible had he finished a class this summer, “but I just decided that it’s in his best interest to pursue other opportunities.”

“We wish him well,” Hudspeth said, “and hope nothing but the best in the future for him.”

Barksdale, a part-time starter who began his Cajun career as a defensive back, overcame multiple injuries to play in nine games last season.

WINSTON RETURNING

Reserve defensive end Blain Winston will rejoin the team on scholarship but must sit out the 2014 season, Hudspeth said.

The Richwood High product from Monroe left UL’s program last January and transferred to Southern, where he took part in spring drills earlier this year.

“I had a great meeting with him,” Hudspeth said. “I really feel like he’s matured.

“He could in the future be an outstanding player, and I think this time away has really helped him refocus. … I think he came to the realization he had something pretty special, and he’s willing to earn that back.”

Winston played in five games for UL last season.

The Cajuns open their 2014 season on Aug. 30 vs. Southern.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

UL has entered the silent phase of a capital campaign in which it hopes to raise $50 million in philanthropic gifts toward its multi-tiered $115 million athletic facilities masterplan, athletic director Scott Farmer said Tuesday.

The masterplan includes major renovation at Cajun Field, including the already under way addition of new end zone seating, and a new athletic performance center, ceremonial groundbreaking on which could come as soon as late next month.

The public phase of the capital campaign may not begin for another 12 months or so, Farmer suggested.

LANDRY COMMITS

The Cajuns picked up a non-binding verbal commitment last weekend from Class of 2015 recruit Delmond Landry, a 6-foot-4, 237-pound defensive end from Ascension Catholic High in Donaldsonville, near Baton Rouge.

A Class 1A all-state football and basketball player, Landry had 73 tackles including 21 sacks and averaged a 23.7-point, 17-56 rebound double-double as a junior last school year.

He also reportedly had offers from Kansas State, Louisiana Tech and Southern Mississippi.

Landry is UL’s 13th known commit.

LAGNIAPPE

UL Monroe coach Todd Berry had kind words Tuesday regarding support the Cajuns receive. “Their fan base is energized at this point in time,” Berry said. “When they come out, they’re loud.” … The title on this year’s UL football media guide reads “HOME OF CHAMPIONS,” and identifies the Cajuns as 2011, 2012 and 2013 New Orleans Bowl champions. … Arkansas State learned earlier this month that highly regarded junior starting center Bryce Giddens has decided to end his career due to multiple injuries, including, it’s believed, head injuries. Giddens was a key part of the offensive line for Arkansas State, which shared last season’s Sun Belt title with UL.